SATURDAY, APRIL 22, 1893. THE FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Evening Post, Volume XLV, Issue 94, 22 April 1893, Page 2

SATURDAY, APRIL 22, 1893. THE FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

The City of Wellington is to bo congratulated on the event co successfully celebrated yesterday. As was well pointed out in tho speeches mado, Wellington has long suffered reproach from tho absence of a Free Public Library. This reproach no longer exists, and all interostod in tbe prosperity and repute of our city owe a deep debt of gratitude to Mr. Levin, whose liberality initiated tho movement now happily consummated, to tho other citizens who to the extent of their means followed his lead, and to tho members of the City Council who devised and executed the scheme by which a suitable home has been provided for tlio reception of the "books purchased through the generosity of tho subscribers. Wo trust that tho timo is not far distant when further generosity of the same kind will necessitate the provision of increased accommodation, and justify the City Council in providing for tho completion of the building as designed by Mr. Crichton. There are many residents of tho city whose names are still conspicuously absent from tho list of its benefactors in regard to an institution which will certainly bo an ornament, and, wo trust, a credit and a blessing to Wellington. The Public Library will also, we hope, become tho recipient and repository of many worka of art and objects of special literary interest. Tho Auckland Library, even apart from the princely gifts of Sir George Grey, has accumulated many treasures in this way. The proceedings yesterday wero an unqualified succebs. The Mayor's speech was in excellent tahte, terse, and to tho point. On Mr. Justice Richmond most worthily devolved the most important part of the proceedings, and ho well fulfilled tho duty. His speech was not only scholarly but practical, and it was full of w isp suggestion and matter for thought and jvllocfion. Within tho necessarily brief limits which his Honour sot himpclf, his address was a very modol of what an inaugural -.pooch of the kind should be. Why the Minister of Education should have been choson to yoico the feelings of the representative Wellington assemblage, in thanking Mr. Justico Richmond for his part in tho proceedings, wo scarcely know. Tho compliment, or rather the dne acknowledgment, would havo como better from Mr. Lkvin or Mr. Duthie, but Mr. Reeves fulfilled the task gracefully and in appronriato phrase. We wish the Free Public Library a long career of usefulness and prosperity.